Citadel Blog

Have you ever wondered what happens to old employee uniforms, company badges, excess promotional products, prototypes, and other items that bear company logos and/or personal information? If items like these aren’t disposed of properly, your company’s security can be at risk.

Oftentimes businesses and their employees think that if they simply delete their confidential electronic files, reformat or restore their devices to original settings, or recycle them, that no one will have access to them. It’s even seen on TV and in the movies where people will use a strong magnet to clear devices. But does any of this actually work? Is the information still on the device and accessible? And if so, what’s the best way to protect your information from a breach?

Your electronic devices now contain more and more confidential information as our world becomes more digital; that’s why it is essential to properly dispose of decommissioned electronics. Computers, laptops, and hand held devices are a vital part of doing business. While they increase efficiency in your operations, technology is continually moving forward, leading to a pile of obsolete devices containing all of your confidential and proprietary information cluttering your office.

How many customers does your company currently have in your database? Think about that number….is it thousands? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Now take that number and multiply it by $158. That is the current cost incurred from each lost or stolen record containing sensitive or confidential information. For most small-to-mid size businesses, that risk can be well over $1 million.